Has it been that long? (or...yes, I'm still here!)

I realize it's time to do a blog entry and in opening up this thing I realize I haven't done an entry since April. While some part of me was aware this blog needed attention, of course it became easy to put it off...then put it off...and then put it off some more

But now since we're into November I actually have a bit more time on my hands because of, well, the change of seasons.  (Meaning:  Outdoor activities are much more limited.  At least until I get my hands on some cross-country skis.)  I finally decided hey, now it's time to get this going again. Update my loyal readers and provide some information on what I've done over these last few months.  And so forth and so on.

So since April.....especially since mid April...now that is quite a bit of information!

Picking up where I left off (late April), I went down to Kansas, got the camper, dewinterized it, brought it back here to Minnesota, got it ready for the season and got some good use out of it this year. Actually more used it more this summer than any prior temperate seasons dating back to when I bought it.  

Had a great vacation this summer, even if it wasn't to an exotic location.  

Engaged in several visits to Minnesota state parks. Which I can continue even in the winter months (think snowshoes and cross country skiing)!

Yet, as I noted we are now in November.  Oddly enough, last Saturday I went to a football game here in Saint Peter--it was Gustavus Adolphus hosting Saint Olaf and I very much enjoyed the gridiron matchup, even if the Oles didn't exactly set the field on fire.  It also was shirtsleeve weather: bright sunshine; temperatures in the 60s; me sporting a bit of a sunburn on one side!  Sure beats what one person sitting near me mentioned: "First weekend of November. At least it's not 20 degrees with snow already on the ground."  

Ah, but that was eight days ago. Today it is gray, cloudy, chilly, windy and that wind just adds to the cold. And we've only just begun Old Man Winter.  Here we go....

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Do I enjoy being in Minnesota? 

Answer is yes. Probably the only thing I really miss about living around Manhattan, Kansas is that I don't have the chance to go to K-State football or basketball games. But that's a small price to pay for all the other benefits I'm reaping. Such as when I do a road trip, it's actually rather enjoyable. Even driving in the prairie section of Minnesota (south and southwest) it doesn't seem as monotonous or dreary as driving through the heart of Kansas or Nebraska. That might deserve a blog entry all its own...

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Trust me, I have plenty to talk about. What about Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 for the SEC? Or the Big 12 adding some new schools (of which I was in favor --actually they should've acquired a couple of those back when they were looking to expand 12 teams). 

And my beloved alma mater New Mexico State University being invited to join an FBS conference.  (Yes!!!)

Like I said plenty to share here plenty to talk about, plenty on which to reflect. Stay tuned.  

In the meantime, how about some pictures?

Change of seasons and change of attitude

It's still April and I'm still learning just what Minnesota April can do to a person, weather-wise.  

Two weeks ago today everyone here was enjoying sunny skies and temps approaching 80.  However....this past Wednesday morning I headed out the door to tackle another workday and found a nice dusting of snow on my truck.  Snow over a smidge of frost on the windshield.  

"For the love of....," I mumbled, to no one in particular.  I really thought I was done with all that scrape-and-warm-up-truck-to-defrost-windshield routine for the season.  

Maybe my new mantra needs to be: "May is coming."

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I knew this moment would come eventually.  My iPhone 7 Plus, while still giving me decent service, is showing a few signs of hardening of the arteries.  Yes, eventually it will be going to mobile device heaven together with all its kind.  

But I confess, I really am not excited about getting a new phone.  Maybe I'm just getting old or perhaps my attention is focused on other aspects of life.  Plus these phones are getting really freakin' expensive.  

Maybe an iPhone SE.  

I remember ten years ago when Apple agreed to enter into agreement with Verizon, I was thrilled to finally get that hot product (I wasn't going to deal with AT&T).  

A lot can change in a decade, yes?

I'm Back!!!

Since probably the end of the holidays, my mantra was:  “April is coming.  April is coming.”

But now…April is here!   

Not only does this mean warmer temps, outside flora showing those first stages of green, dead raccoons and possums on the highways but most important: the significance that I made it through my first Minnesota winter.  

To be sure, thermometer and snow-wise this wasn’t anywhere near what other winter solstice-induced Arctic conditions brought upon this state in years past.  There was a stretch in February where the combination of minus-zero temps and wind made anything outside just downright brutal and when we got significant snowfall on December 23 I realized that white stuff would be around until the spring thaw.  

Yet it is gone now.  I no longer have to head out the door early to warm up my vehicle and de-ice the windshield.  Geogal and I can take constitutionals in the late afternoon if we desire.  The daylight is longer.  

April is here!!

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More signs of the changing seasons:  On the road this morning, passed by a turkey just minding his own business.  A tom, with a really nice beard.  

Yes, it’s that season.  (And no, I don’t have any plans to hunt at present.  Too much other stuff…)

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Why did I take a hiatus from blogging?  Two words:  time and energy.  

If you think my absence was due to sloth/laziness/malaise, think again.  

December for me didn’t involve just the holiday season.  I initiated something new and significant, but required substantial preparation and once it took off, demanded much of my evenings and weekend time.  

That’s all I want to say about that.  I’m still keeping this blog focused on my musings, interests, travels and random thoughts.  Not about other areas of my life.  

Even though I wasn’t writing (here), I still thought about entries.  As such I now have quite a few items to bring to this space.  I also am challenging myself to write more regularly (yes, how many times have I said that?).  But if I set a schedule to allow time for writing and realize I don’t have to submit lengthy ones, well, let’s just see what happens!